Integrated folding mechanism of a treadmill

ABSTRACT

An integrated folding mechanism of a treadmill having a slide pusher supported by a pneumatic cylinder at the bottom of a platform frame thereof. In this way, the rear support may be pushed upward to bring the platform frame in a vertical stable folding position or in a flat ground-touching position when the platform frame is moved upward and downward. Meanwhile, a coupling rod is pivotally interposed between the rear support and an L-shaped handrail assembly. Under the action of an elastic element, the handrail assembly is movable with the platform frame for creating a synchronic folding and extending action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an integrated folding mechanism of a treadmill,and more particularly, to a folding mechanism that provides an excellentauxiliary and supporting force when the platform frame is moved upwardin a folded position and downward in a flat position. Meanwhile, ahandrail assembly is movable to create a synchronic folding andextending action.

2. Description of the Related Art

As well-known, the treadmill has a large volume and a great weight. Itis therefore common to provide the platform frame of the treadmill witha fold-up function for facilitating the transportation and the storage.In view of the basic accessories of the treadmill, the fold-up mechanismcan be divided into an electric and a manual folding configuration. Theinvention is intended for the manual folding configuration.

In fact, the conventional treadmills are not able to provide anexcellent auxiliary supporting force for helping the operator tocomplete the fold-up or fold-down process when the platform frame ismoved either in a storage position or in an operation position. Thus,the women often regard the fold-up or fold-down process of the treadmillas an impossible mission because any careless action would causeinjuries to the body.

The worry about the above-mentioned operation of the treadmill can beattributed to the improper or insufficient design of the treadmill inaddition to the bulky platform frame. This is the key point of theproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioneddrawbacks and to provide a folding mechanism of a treadmill that employsa pneumatic cylinder and a slide pusher to provide an effectiveauxiliary and supporting force when the platform frame is moved in avertical position or in a horizontal position. Meanwhile, by use of arear support, a coupling rod, and an elastic element, the handrailassembly is movable with the platform frame to create a synchronicfolding and extending action.

According to the invention, a folding mechanism of a treadmill includesa slide pusher supported by a pneumatic cylinder at the bottom of aplatform frame thereof, thereby pushing the rear support in an opposingdirection to keep a ground-touching slide action at all times.Meanwhile, a coupling rod is pivotally interposed between the rearsupport and an L-shaped handrail assembly. Under the action of anelastic element, the handrail assembly is movable with the platformframe for creating a synchronic folding and extending action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 with the treadmill's platform lifted inan inclined position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1 with the treadmill's platform lifted ina storage position; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings that show variousembodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a platform frame 10 includes a transmissionmotor 11 at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt (notshown) into rotation by use of a transmission belt 12, a front roller13, and a rear roller 14. Meanwhile, a lifting motor 15 is employed tomove an adjusting support 16 upward and downward for adjusting thesupporting angle of the platform frame 10. Moreover, two connection pins17, 18 are disposed at both sides of the platform frame 10,respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly 19 and a rearsupport 20, respectively.

A slide rail 22, on which a slipper 21 moves, is interposed between afirst and a second strengthening bar 101, 102. A slide pusher 23 ispivotally attached to the bottom of the slipper 21. The other end of theslide pusher 23 is pivotally connected to the rear support 20. Besides,a pneumatic cylinder 24 is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a thirdstrengthening bar 103 of the platform frame 10. Meanwhile, the other endof the pneumatic cylinder 24 is pivotally attached to a central crossbar231 of the slide pusher 23.

Thereafter, a coupling rod 26 is pivotally interposed between the rearsupport 20 and the handrail assembly 19. Under the action of an elasticelement 27, the handrail assembly 19 is movable with the platform frame10 for creating a synchronic folding and extending action.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pneumatic cylinder 24 is brought into acompressed state by the weight of the platform frame 10 when theplatform frame 10 is moved in a horizontal operation position. Thepneumatic cylinder 24 provides an auxiliary supporting force to push theslide pusher 23 toward the front end of the platform frame 10 when theoperator lifts the rear end of the platform frame 10. In this way, therear support 20 may be also pushed toward the front end of the platformframe 10 for a ground-touching rotation until the platform frame 10 ismoved in a vertical storage position. Accordingly, the platform frame 10may be stably supported by means of ground-touching feet 25 at thefrontmost end of the platform frame 10 and guide wheels 201 at the rearend of the rear support 20 that are brought into contact with theground.

Likewise, the guide wheels 201 of the rear support 20 are also broughtinto a ground-touching rotation under the influence of the shockmitigation provided by the pneumatic cylinder 24 when the platform frame10 is compressed downward until the platform frame 10 is moved in ahorizontal position. Accordingly, a stable and effort-saving effect isachieved.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pneumatic cylinder 24 according to the inventioncan be pivotally attached to the rear end of the slide pusher 23. Thismay achieve the same effect.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. An integrated folding mechanism of a treadmill having a platformframe with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving acontinuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, afront roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to movean adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supportingangle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at bothsides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling ahandrail assembly and a rear support, respectively, wherein a sliderail, on which a slipper moves, is interposed between a first and asecond strengthening bar; wherein a slide pusher is pivotally attachedto the bottom of the slipper while the other end of the slide pusher ispivotally connected to the rear support; wherein a pneumatic cylinder ispivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengthening bar of theplatform frame while the other end of the pneumatic cylinder ispivotally attached to a central crossbar of the slide pusher; andwherein a coupling rod is pivotally interposed between the rear supportand the handrail assembly. Under the action of an elastic element, thehandrail assembly is movable with the platform frame for creating asynchronic folding and extending action.
 2. An integrated foldingmechanism of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmissionmotor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt intorotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rearroller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting supportupward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platformframe, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platformframe, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and arear support, respectively, wherein a slide rail, on which a slippermoves, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar;wherein a slide pusher is pivotally attached to the bottom of theslipper while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connectedto the rear support; wherein a pneumatic cylinder is pivotally coupledto the bottom of a third strengthening bar of the platform frame whilethe other end of the pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to therear end of the slide pusher; and wherein a coupling rod is pivotallyinterposed between the rear support and the handrail assembly. Under theaction of an elastic element, the handrail assembly is movable with theplatform frame for creating a synchronic folding and extending action.